Ever taken your pooch on a car journey only to discover she’s redecorated your back seat? Not the most pleasant experience for either of you, Clarendon Street Vets knows.
Motion sickness in dogs is more commonly seen in puppies and young dogs because the ear structures used for balance aren’t fully developed yet.
Stress can also lead to travel sickness, so if your dog is only ever in the car for a trip to the vets, anxiety may lead to nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms of dog travel sickness
If you’re not sure what to look out for, our experienced head vet, Patrick, advises pet owners to watch for any signs of:
- Inactivity
- Yawning
- Whining
- Excessive drooling
- Vomiting
- Smacking or licking lips
Treating nausea
If your dog suffers from sickness while travelling, don’t panic. There are plenty of steps you can take to minimise its suffering.
Try to make the car journey as comfortable as possible; ensure your pet is facing forwards while travelling, rather than looking out of side windows.
Buy a dog seatbelt to keep them secure and lower windows slightly when the car is moving to balance air pressure in the car.
Keep your vehicle cool and well ventilated. And, finally, (perhaps obviously): limit their food consumption before travelling.
Good luck, and we hope you enjoy an incident-free journey with your dog. If you need any further advice or support, give our teams a ring on 01223 359021.